Title
Breast cover ('akhin') and accompanying beads
circa 1900
Artists
Unknown Artist
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Details
- Place where the work was made
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Ancient Arakan
→
Myanmar
- Cultural origin
- Mrauk-U
- Date
- circa 1900
- Media category
- Textile
- Materials used
- cotton
- Dimensions
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a - breast cover, 72.5 x 37 cm
b - beads, 99 cm
- Credit
- Gift of Pamela Gutman 2006
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 202.2006.a-b
- Copyright
- Share
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-
About
This textile belongs to the Khami or Mro people of Mrauk-U in southwest Burma. The designs are so rich that it can reputedly take over six months to complete a single panel for a dress. The close, tight weave makes the textiles almost watertight. Breast covers are wrapped around the upper body and secured over one shoulder. Traditionally, Khami women tattooed their shoulders to complement the exquisite patterns of the cloths. Beads commonly accompany both men and women's cloths.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, June 2006